For those with Type I diabetes, blood sugar needs to be checked regularly, often several times per day. This can be not just inconvenient, but, also a pain in the....well...finger. When traditional mechanical lancets puncture the skin to obtain a blood sample, they typically cause pain in two ways. First, the slow moving lancet presses down on the skin before the puncture is made, putting pressure on the underlying nerves. Secondly, the puncture depth is very difficult to control, causing the spring-loaded mechanical lancet to actually penetrate some of the nerve endings.
By contrast, the Pelikan Sun, a new product from Pelikan technologies, is electronically controlled and is claimed to be "virtually painless" by the manufacturer. According to their FAQ, it accomplishes this feat by first sensing the presence of the finger, then "lances to a user-selected depth, to a smooth and controlled stop, [which] enables the lancet to reach the capillary loops without penetrating nerve endings and without generating pressure waves...".
As shown by the videos on the company's website, the device allows simple and pain-free testing, even on kids.
Painless Diabetes Testing
Pelikan Sun Medical Lancet
Trend Themes
1. Painless Diabetes Testing - The trend of developing painless methods for diabetes testing presents an opportunity for innovation in medical technology.
2. Electronically Controlled Lancets - The trend of using electronically controlled lancets in medical devices opens doors for improved accuracy and user experience in blood glucose monitoring.
3. User-friendly Testing Devices - The trend of creating user-friendly testing devices, particularly for children, offers an opportunity to enhance accessibility and compliance in diabetes management.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Technology - The medical technology industry can develop and market electronically controlled lancets or other painless testing devices for diabetes management.
2. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can adopt and integrate painless diabetes testing devices to improve patient experience and support better disease management.
3. Pediatrics - The pediatrics industry can benefit from painless testing devices by enhancing collaboration with medical technology companies to provide child-friendly diabetes management solutions.